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1978 Chrysler LB Lancer

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 9:09 am
by mstrrab1992
Well i think its about time i upload my new toy/project so everyone can see it and enjoy it as well as myself.

I just recently purchased a 1978 Chrsyler(Mitsubishi) LB Lancer(Celeste) Hatch on my birthday on december 18th

The previous owner of this car bought this Lancer originally for spares, but after me posting an ad on gumtree he contacted me and asked if i would like to come have a look to buy it

so i went, i seen, i bought.

Not knowning the full history of the car, it seemed to be in pretty good shape. and to the previous owners knowledge it was aswell. Except for a tyre they was toed in. which we both thought maybe just a lower control arm bush

The car wouldnt start and run 100% due to stale fuel

Upon getting the car home and managing to get it in my garage, the first thing i did was drain all the old fuel out (luckily there was only about 4 litres left in the tank) put some new fuel in, and within about 30 mins got it idleing great.

After closer inspection of the car in better light, aswell as having my dad with me, we noticed that there were quite a phew things out of whack with the car, recently has been in a bit of a bingle, and a phew things were bent.

Including engine cross member and lower control arm, which then explained the toe in of the tyre. after much searching i managed to get onto someone that helped me out with a cross member lower control arm and headlight mouting bracket(as it was bent too). Here are only a phew pics of what we've done so far and a phew of the issue that the car had.

And a big shoutout to my father who helped with my car, wouldnt have been able to it without him!

Some pictures before i picked up the car:

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Photo of previous owners other lancers with mine at the rear
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Photo of the car at home. after it was unloaded from the truck


some problems encountered so far

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If you can see the back of this bolt, its the bolt that goes through to crossmember and lower control arm

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This "was" a ball joint, so whatever it had of it, it got hit hard.

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This was the drivers side of the Cross member

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this is the passengers side of the cross member

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a picture of the toe in on the drivers side

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right side

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Left side (both sides got a bit of a rub back and painted with some gloss black rust killer



a nice photo after this weekend putting it all back together
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Re: 1978 Chrysler LB Lancer

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 9:17 am
by mstrrab1992
Car is going for a roadworthy tomorrow. and i forgot to mention what ive replaced so far

Both rear wheel cylinders
rear shocks
front shocks
front wheel bearings
ball joints
control arm bushes
(im sure theres more) but they were the main things needed for rwc.

Re: 1978 Chrysler LB Lancer

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 1:39 pm
by mstrrab1992
Good news. Another lancer on the road!

Re: 1978 Chrysler LB Lancer

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 8:38 am
by Cottees
Good to see that you got the Lancer all sorted out. That suspension was really bent up!

Re: 1978 Chrysler LB Lancer

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 9:51 pm
by stealth
Good stuff mate looks good
What are the plans for it ?
Cheers stealth

Re: 1978 Chrysler LB Lancer

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:15 pm
by mstrrab1992
Well at this stage. I have a 4g54 narrow block to bolt straight in. So that will be going in first. Then from there I might just so some slight mods here and there. And leave it at that. Then focus on tidying it up. Pics make it look better then it is. Phew dings here and there. Needs a bit of TLC polishing to get rid of some orange peel. Phew guards need to be aligned and knocked into shape. And it needs to be put on a jig to straighten it. Its probably a bit twisted from the hit it sustained and is no more then probably 1-2cm out of alignment.

As for later on down the track. I'm either deciding spend big on a 4g63t or just keep it pretty practical with a 4g54 and do quite a bit of work to it. And keep it NA.